A suitable X570 board featuring a 2.5Gb LAN connection
A suitable X570 board featuring a 2.5Gb LAN connection
So basically, my ISP agreement was about to end, so I renewed it and secured a solid 2.5Gbps connection. On Wednesday, the team arrived to install fiber upgrades and I began searching for 2.5Gbps PCIe cards. There weren’t many options—just a few questionable brands, mostly offering 10Gbps models priced like a top-tier X570 board. With limited second-hand X570 options that included warranties, I opted to switch to a motherboard featuring built-in 2.5Gb LAN. But it turns out 2.5Gigabit LAN isn’t widely available on X570 boards. What should I look for? I need at least two M.2 slots for NVMe drives, a 2.5Gbps LAN connection, and I’m not interested in Asus boards—though an AsRock model would be fine if it had the LAN option.
Is Used okay? you’re in Germany right? here’s one used https://www.ebay.de/itm/204767729193?mkc...media=COPY For new https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product/pVGb...pg-riptide
I just added a $30 PCIe card to your current setup. This was necessary because the Intel 2.5Gb NIC on my X670e board isn’t supporting Windows 11 drivers. Keep in mind that achieving real 2.5Gb speeds will be challenging for many websites unless you have a 5950x connection. Downloading games from Steam, for example, demands significant CPU power to handle even moderate bandwidth.
Some lesser-known options can also fit. For instance this product: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/NICGIGA-RTL81...B09HGRK5XB works well. All these models likely use the same RTL8125 2.5G Ethernet chip, which is standard on most motherboards, reducing the chances of issues. Avoid investing in another X570 board; if you upgrade to a B550 motherboard, you’ll only lose a few PCIe 4.0 lanes—usually in the second M.2 slot. Otherwise, you may gain more functionality.
Your top option isn't suitable because replacing a motherboard involves significant cost and extensive effort.
This is one I've got that fits the bill of what you're looking for. I can vouch for it being a good board because mine has been, even under subzero conditions and it has yet to miss a beat. MEG X570 ACE | Motherboard | MSI Global Check it's specifications and I believe this will do it if you get one. However this isn't the newest iteration of this model line, there is another that took it's place afterwards but that one should be just as good as long as it's specs satisfies your requirements. MEG X570 UNIFY | Motherboard | MSI Global
Initially, I appreciate your feedback. There have been several disappointing interactions with their products, starting from the motherboards to the GPUs. My last build using a system from four years ago was still problematic, especially with the thermal pads on the new RTX 3080s. I was also left dealing with the VG27AQ display, which I initially thought was a good offer. Asus seems to have faded from my radar for hardware purchases. For anything physical, Bulgaria is my go-to now. I have access to a solid used market and even some contacts who can help me get refurbished boards with warranties at a fraction of the cost. Buying on eBay or Amazon becomes prohibitively expensive when shipping to Bulgaria, making it hard to justify the price compared to a full X570 motherboard with warranty.
Currently, my setup runs at about 1Gbps, downloading and installing games from Steam at steady speeds, which barely exceeds 38% of my GPU’s capacity. There are occasional spikes up to 45%, but overall CPU usage stays under 35%. I’m hoping for a 10Gbps connection soon, which would really boost performance. I’m also thinking about switching to Zen5 once the Ryzen 9000 X3D CPUs arrive later this year. The extra M.2 slot and PCIe lane on the X570 were key reasons for my upgrade from the B450.
Regarding cards, shipping makes them very costly, and local options are often overpriced. I’m considering using those extra PCIe lanes with NVMe drives to avoid mechanical disks and keep a 4TB HDD, maximizing free lanes. Thanks for your insights. I found a Unify at a local dealer with original packaging, accessories, and a 13-month warranty for €114—great value compared to the €280 new price. It should arrive in two days.